# Mei Li Wah > Mei Li Wah is a legendary Chinatown bakery and cafe tucked into Bayard Street in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown. The spot is best known for its baked roast pork buns and iconic pineapple roast pork buns, each balancing a sweet, pillowy crust with a savory, generously filled center. Reviewers consistently praise the freshness of the bread and the satisfying ratio of crust to filling. The vibe is casual and buzzing, with a loyal crowd that often lines up down the block. It suits solo outings, family visits, and anyone craving a quick, satisfying bite in one of New York's most storied food neighborhoods. ## Key facts - **URL**: https://frankiapp.com/business/mei-li-wah-32121 - **Type**: Cafes - **Cuisine**: Bakery - **Location**: New York, NY - **Address**: 62-64 Bayard St (btwn Elizabeth & Mott St), New York, NY 10013, New York, NY - **Phone**: 12129667866 - **Website**: https://meiliwah.com - **Price range**: $$$$ - **Coordinates**: 40.715606, -73.998001 - **Claimed**: unclaimed - **Vibes**: Casual, Buzzing ## About Mei Li Wah is a legendary Chinatown bakery and cafe tucked into Bayard Street in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown. The spot is best known for its baked roast pork buns and iconic pineapple roast pork buns, each balancing a sweet, pillowy crust with a savory, generously filled center. Reviewers consistently praise the freshness of the bread and the satisfying ratio of crust to filling. The vibe is casual and buzzing, with a loyal crowd that often lines up down the block. It suits solo outings, family visits, and anyone craving a quick, satisfying bite in one of New York's most storied food neighborhoods. ## Hours - Monday: 7am - 10:30pm - Tuesday: 7am - 10:30pm - Wednesday: 7am - 10:30pm - Thursday: 7am - 10:30pm - Friday: 7am - 10:30pm - Saturday: 7am - 10:30pm - Sunday: 7am - 10:30pm ## Highlights - **Iconic pineapple bun** — The pineapple roast pork bun balances a sweet crust with a savory, hearty filling. - **Freshly baked daily** — Bread is baked fresh throughout the day, so every bun is soft and full of flavor. - **Chinatown institution** — A beloved hole-in-the-wall on Bayard St with a loyal following and lines to prove it. - **Quick and buzzing** — The casual, fast-moving setup makes it an ideal stop for a quick and satisfying bite. ## FAQ ### Where is Mei Li Wah located? Mei Li Wah is located at 62-64 Bayard St, between Elizabeth and Mott Street, in the heart of Chinatown, New York, NY 10013. ### What are Mei Li Wah's opening hours? Mei Li Wah is open every day of the week from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM. ### What kind of food does Mei Li Wah serve? Mei Li Wah is a Chinatown bakery and cafe that serves freshly baked Chinese buns, dim sum dishes, and rice plates. Their baked roast pork buns and pineapple roast pork buns are the standout items, praised for their fresh bread and well-balanced sweet and savory filling. The menu also includes dim sum staples like har gow and pan fried sticky rice with chicken. ### What are the most popular items at Mei Li Wah? The baked roast pork bun and the pineapple roast pork bun are the items that draw the biggest crowds. Reviewers love the pineapple bun for its sweet crust paired with a generous, savory pork filling. The pan fried sticky rice with chicken and the duck and roast pork rice plates are also frequently praised. ### What is Franki? Franki is a restaurant discovery app that helps you find great places to eat through real video reviews from actual diners. You can browse reviews, photos, and videos of Mei Li Wah on Franki, and earn cash back when you dine there. Download Franki on the App Store or Google Play to start exploring. ### How busy does Mei Li Wah get? Mei Li Wah is known to draw long lines, especially as the morning progresses toward midday. Arriving early is the best way to beat the crowd and avoid waiting down the block. The spot moves quickly, so even if there is a line, it tends to go fast. ### Is Mei Li Wah good for families or solo visits? Yes, Mei Li Wah suits both family outings and solo visits thanks to its casual, no-fuss setup and a menu with something for everyone. The affordable per-item pricing makes it easy to sample a few things, and the quick service keeps things moving at a comfortable pace. ### How can I contact Mei Li Wah or find more information? You can reach Mei Li Wah by phone at (212) 966-7866 or visit their website at meiliwah.com to learn more before your visit. ### Is Mei Li Wah expensive? Individual buns are priced at just a few dollars each, so you can enjoy a satisfying meal without spending much. The overall experience offers strong value, particularly for the quality and freshness of what you get. ## Reviews ### jlw3079 — 5.0/5 · Dec 4, 2024 Know what you want before you go up ### munchlex — 5.0/5 · Jan 16, 2025 Great combination of sweet and savory! For only $3 you can get yourself a pineapple bun with roasted pork! The only problem is you’d have to deal with the long line depending when you go! ### chowtime — 5.0/5 · Mar 30, 2025 Takeout only hole in the wall spot! They have dim sum dishes and fresh bread. Got their famous pineapple roast pork bun and it was definitely worth the hype. Very fresh, sweet & savory with each bite. Perfect ratio of pineapple crust and meat and not skimpy at all. ### 88tumble — 5.0/5 · Oct 3, 2025 The original cha siu bao. Delicious and fresh! ### panchooo — 5.0/5 · Sep 22, 2025 Mei Lai Wah serves up delicious baked roast pork buns (Try the pineapple bun with roast pork too!) ### connieishangry — 5.0/5 · Jan 3, 2026 Pineapple roast pork bun is amazing here!!! The bread is nice & sweet. Glad we got here earlier and beat the crowd, saw the lines down the block by noon. ### chowtime — 5.0/5 · Jan 14, 2026 Got the pineapple bun with char siu and pan fried sticky rice with chicken. Come early or expect a line! I wish they had seating, but they do have a standing table by the wall. Pineapple bun is both sweet and savory and so good. The sticky rice was amazing too, pan fried with egg on the outside and sausage, chicken, mushroom on the inside. ### munchwithashley — 5.0/5 · Nov 26, 2022 The best classic baked pork buns in town! Or try their pineapple baked pork bun. There tends to be a line outside these days so definitely plan ahead. ### wanderingnuggett — 5.0/5 · Nov 5, 2022 When you’re in Chinatown NYC, you have to check out Mei Li Wah. Their Pineapple BBQ Pork buns are to die for!!!! 🤤 ### sylvie — 5.0/5 · Feb 12, 2024 The duck, roast pork rice were amazingly delicious and the prices were great too, especially for the duck :) ## Nearby - [Kong Sihk Tong 港食堂](https://frankiapp.com/business/kong-sihk-tong-30160) — American · $$$$ - 65 Bayard St (btwn Mott & Elizabeth Sts), New York, NY 10013, US - [Levain Bakery](https://frankiapp.com/business/levain-bakery-26932) — Comfort Food · $$$$ - 340 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, US - [HEYTEA](https://frankiapp.com/business/heytea-99019) — Bubble Tea Shop · $$$$ - 1407 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, US - [Prince Street Pizza](https://frankiapp.com/business/prince-street-pizza-30384) — American · $$$$ - 27 Prince St (btwn Mott & Elizabeth St), New York, NY 10012, US - [Grace Street Coffee & Desserts](https://frankiapp.com/business/grace-street-coffee-desserts-604) — Dessert Shop · $$$$ - 17 W 32nd St, , New York, NY 10001, US - [Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂](https://frankiapp.com/business/xing-fu-tang-26830) — Comfort Food · $$$$ - 133 2nd Ave (btwn St. Marks Pl & E 9th St), New York, NY 10003, US - [SALSWEE](https://frankiapp.com/business/salswee-112518) — Dessert Shop · $$$$ - 180 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, US - [L’industrie Pizzeria West Village](https://frankiapp.com/business/l-industrie-pizzeria-west-village-100028) — American · $$$$ - 104 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014, US --- View full profile, photos, videos, and reviews on Franki: https://frankiapp.com/business/mei-li-wah-32121